The Stovebolt Forums Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1953 3100 question

Please forgive me if I missed answers to my question while searching the archives. I have an all original drivetrain 3100. Including a factory 4 speed on the floor. I would like to leave it mostly original but improve the drivability to more modern highway speeds. Is there a way to keep the original rear axel with torque tube but swap out the differential gears for something that would allow improved highway speeds?

Yes - Mother Trucker sells an excellent 3.55 Ring & Pinion Set (and, I think the old instructions).

Maybe someone will post a link to an installation parts set (bearings/seals/gaskets/etc necessary for a good/tight installation, and, no noise when running).

A few tools/gauges are need - Harbor Freight and others sell them.

There may be more information on-line (I will check the Tech Tips here - have you checked them?)

Thx soo much for the reply. No I have not checked with Tech Tips yet but I will.

I did exactly what Tim just suggested. Then added 30" tall tires and a 261 (able to get it cheap) and I had a top speed of 85 mph.

From an old post:

“I have Cooper Tire SRM II LT215/85R16 black truck radials on my Suburban (they are pretty old, 10+ years).

The 1954 16" rims are 4.5" x 16".

Your 1947/48 rims might be either 4.0" or 4.5"

The mounted tire diameter, as Carl posted, is around 31". The "advertised" diameter is around 28".”

3.55 ring & pinion and all new rear-end and torque-tube and u-joint parts.

On a long flat straight empty road, I once had in up to 93 MPH - to impress a friend.
He was not impressed until I told him to check the speedometer.

Never again.